558 Tasting Notes

This is one of the samples I received from Ginkgo with life in teacup. There was a valentine’s special package created for 10 lucky steepster posters and I was lucky enough to be one of them!

I’ve never tried an unflavored oolong, so this is an experience for me. I have seen many raving reviews about different Tie Guan Yin’s and wanted to try one. I followed the steeping instructions in doing a 1 minute prewash/steep, then a 20 second steep with nearly boiling water. I like the infusion that came from the first steep. It is sweet and light and delicately floral. I hope to try more steeps from these leaves.

I had a Pomegranate Tie Guan Yin from Harney several months ago, and now remember it being similar in flavor, but having an added tart fruit flavor from the pomegranate. I do like this tea, I just wish I had more of a vocabulary to explain and describe it.

I don’t know why I hesitated on ordering this one. This is so delicous, creamy and coconuty. I haven’t tasted the cheesecake much, accept in the aftertaste, and not sure I will get the chance to sip this cup as it cools as I am inhaling it. I love that I can’t taste the honeybush flavor much in this brew. Probably because I only steeped it for 3 minutes because the aroma was intoxicating. I really like it at this steeping time.

I brewed this using more leaf, as I tend to find white flavored teas to be quite light in flavor. I used 2 tbsp for 12oz water. It still amazes me how pale the liquid from white teas is. It almost tastes like grapes. The blend of cranberries, currants and cherries makes it taste grapey? I think my taste buds may be a little off. This tea would probably be better suited for later in the day, but it was still pleasant this morning. Now to brew a cup that will wake me out of this fog.

My youngest is drinking out of the laboratory beaker mug tonight and wearing the Enterprise “Ship in a Bottle” shirt. They both wear TG t-shirts all the time! Instead of stuffed animals, they have plush renditions of Y. pestis (the black plague) and other such microbes on their beds! :)

My first Adagio custom blend arrived today! I was so excited to make this tea, especially after noting that adagio didn’t really make a berry blended green rooibos when they created the green rooibos collection.

Even with just 30% berry blues, I can really taste the blueberry in this blend. It isn’t over the top or too tart that I need to add sugar. I think it is just right! There is a light citrus herbal tone from the lemongrass, and the flavor from the rooibos still shines through. I’m really happy I made this tea and can’t wait to try it iced. I’m hoping this will be a perfect evening blend for those nights I want something fruity and decaf!

Oh, I might be a bit biased on the rating as I created this myself, but if you would care to try a little and give me some feedback on this tea, shoot me a pm or comment and I can send some off to you!

I really didn’t expect to like this tea, I haven’t really craved jasmine flavored teas and thought it would just be one I tried and passed along. Well, I find I’m enjoying this tea more and more. I drink this more in the evenings when I don’t want the caffeine of a black tea. I craved it again tonight, and noticed I was down to less than half of the tin. I haven’t even opened the earl grey yet, as the Lupicia Earl Grey came into my life right before this one did. I think I may order another set (or two) of these just to have this tea around a little longer.

I would love to swap. Would you like a pouch of ginger ale bai mu Dan or cantaloupe white? I ordered two pouches of each yesterday and I could send when they arrive. Or let me know if something else interests you.

Wow! This smells so much like the high calorie white chocolate mocha that I love so dearly. I haven’t had one in ages and this tea really brought me back to that flavor. It isn’t as creamy in texture, but I bet if I added a splash of cream the texture would be about right. This tea is intoxicating. Such the perfect tea for me. Thank you JoeCool for sending me a few bags!

Enjoying this iced with a pinch of splenda to sweeten it. Iced this is one tart tea, with a little sweetner this is adult coolaid. I wish I had some lemongrass or mint to mix in with it, I bet it would be even better!

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Live in the cornfields of IL, but not too far from the city. Expecting a baby any day now (due Oct 24 2011). Sticking to mainly herbal and low caffeine teas for now. Trying to encourage my husbands tea drinking, but he adds so much sweetner he may as well just drink diet pop. I love trying new teas, and will try any tea once.